His wolf dispatched, Morti glances around to see where he's needed.
"Would you two stop nattering away? There's work to be done!"
Exasperated, the dwarf moves to engage the next beast.
...but finds the wolf just out of reach.
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Round 3
He takes a grave would to his left arm from the wolf's bite and falls backwards.
Mak, feeling like he has little choice in the matter, stands up, shaking off the wolf and withdraws backwards so that he can ready his bow or a spell for next round.
"get them together and I'll Grease them good!
With the villagers apparently reorganized, Caramir launches an arrow at the closest wolf - "Time to quell this attack!" - he shouts to those around them.
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Round Three
"I prefer a walk on the beach in twilight to a candle lit dinner.
Apparently Okrin's wit is quicker than his feet, which isn't saying much. He falls to the ground, tripped by the attack of one of the wolves.
Karl moves onto the next wolf, flanking if he can.
+2 if flanking
round 4
Karl continues to strike at the wolf he has moved onto.
Karl's first blow whips past the raging wolf, but his follow up blow cracks him right of the back of the skull. Unfortunately the blow was robbed of power
End of round 3
The wolf sinks it's jaws deep into Rata's chest and with a groan he drops to the ground, blood swiftly pooling around his motionless body.
Round 4
Rata continues to bleed out on the ground.
Round 4
Morti stands over Rata, attempting to drive back the wolf with hammer and shield.
...but is distracted by the stranger's sudden appearance, failing to land his blows effectively.
Who...is this? I don't remember seeing him earlier -- he doesn't look like a villager? But he seems to be on our side, and needs help regardless.
Round 4
Okrin gets up quickly as he notices Rata fall to the ground, doing his best to fight off the wolves. His flying fists fail to connect. (move action: stand up. standard action: attack: )
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Seeing the wolves tear through their ranks, Caramir refocuses himself. Since the villagers seem to be somewhat organized, he fires at the wolf - once, and twice.
Rounds 3 and 4
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-There are four dead wolves. One, slumped beside Rata, their bloods intermingling in black pools between the blades of grass.
-But one attacker still lives, with no less than three arrows sprouting from large patches of bloody fur.
The remaining wolf manages to catch its feet and turn around to flee as the villagers next to the party surge forward bearing their torches and yelling loudly. ”Get out of here” “Off with you” “Leave Wolf!”
There is another common howl from the darkness beyond the torchlight. Another signal? The sounds of the wolves seemingly receding into the deep forest.
One of the townsfolk, no more than a lad really, comes over to stand beside Rata. He shakes and looks like he’s about to lose his dinner. He seems to be muttering something.
His eyes bore into Rata's chest.
In the distance, you see cleric Montepierre dashing in your direction.
Caramir breathes a sigh of relief as the wolves retreat back to the forest, but takes note of the howl that seems to come from deep within the forested area.
As he begins turning his attention to the wounded amongst his companions, and before he has a chance to speak, the lad catches his attention, and he moves closer to him - "What is the matter young one? Are you hurt?" - he tries to appease him, understanding that fighting for one's life may take its toll, mainly on such a young child.
The attack has left Okrin disoriented and unsure of what is going on.
Karl notes the boys muttering, and takes note. Maybe the cleric can help him. But we have more important items just now.
He kneels beside Rata and tries (ineffectually) to staunch his wounds.
Montepierre, we need a cleric. This one is hurt. he calls out to the approaching cleric
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As Montepierre approaches, his right hand twists around the tokens tied to his wrist. Everyone gathered around Rata glows faintly in the torch light. Mak stretches his arm and inspects it. "Much obliged, Flyer"
"No, not hurt." comes the young man's reply. In the bright light of his crackling torch, he shakes his head, then turns to Caramir, looking at his chest. "It is the old way. We must be thankful they lay dead."
Rata coughs, but does not expel any blood when he does so.
As he works, Montepierre asks, "Who is this man? I don't recognize him from earlier."
Looking toward the speaker.
"Thank you for your help."
don't know. He just turned up and helped us with the wolves. Maybe he's a local.
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the torches hiss as the townsfolk begin dumping them into a pair of buckets that a woman has carried to the scene.
"You and your people were kind to help us." The young man says, his head bowed to Okrin. "My name is Baca. I wish to meet all of you. How came you here?"
Mak explains, "I think he's some manner of miskittled bounty bondsman. Stiffling a yawn of fatigue, he continues, "He said he was looking for a red headed woman and a big man carrying a crossbow."
Bowing slightly.
"Well met Baca. I am Okrin. We were traveling the road together when we came upon a boy from this village whose dog had attacked him. We were offered shelter after brining him here. Do you know what has caused the wolves to attack so brazenly?"
"No, not hurt." comes the young man's reply. In the bright light of his crackling torch, he shakes his head, then turns to Caramir, looking at his chest. "It is the old way. We must be thankful they lay dead."
"What do you mean by the old way, young one?" - Caramir insists.
He feels the warm healing emanating from Montepierre, and turns with a bow - "Thank you friend - I am not sure who this one is. Mak spoke the most to him, but I am happy for the assistance he offered us" - he adds.
As the woman speaks, he listens to Okrin's answer - "It is as my friend Okrin has described. My name is Caramir" - he introduces himself - "And I echo his words - why would the wolves attack in such a way? Would you be aware of the cause?"
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The lad looks up and down the treeline before answering Okrin.
"The forest does these things. It is beyond us to wonder why."
He stops shaking. Hardly even a young man, he's silhouetted between you and the other villagers gathering torches. Can't be more than seventeen, this scrawny lad.
Aldan approaches with a darkened torch. Over his shoulder he carries his bow. "Don't let Baca scare you with his mother's tales. Friends, look, I know things have been strange today, but I assure you, our village was as safe as she could be. Levoca hasn't had problems like these before." the man stops to scratch his head with a rough hand, as if embarrassed.
"You and your friend are welcome to stay until he recovers. Clearly, you know how to handle yourselves. I only ask that you meet with my friend Karl and myself tomorrow after breakfast. We should like to discuss terms for training."
Baca bows out of the conversation and heads away to 9.Levoca. When he turns away, you notice Mak plainly moving his hands the way he did before - casting Detect Magic on Baca. Makirut also seems to behaving a muttering conversation with himself.
"Should you decide to stay, of course." Aldan adds.
A few other locals are talking close by, they seem to be trying to decide whether to bury the wolves or not. Everyone else splits up and heads to waiting homes.
After another minute of walking the tree line to ensure the darkness holds no more imminent threats, Morti returns to the group, giving Rata a significant look. "I don't mean offense, friend, but I must ask -- what led you here, in the night, just when the wolves attacked?" Indicating Rata's wounds, he adds, "You don't look like any friend of theirs, to be sure."
The lad looks up and down the treeline before answering Okrin.
"The forest does these things. It is beyond us to wonder why."
He stops shaking. Hardly even a young man, he's silhouetted between you and the other villagers gathering torches. Can't be more than seventeen, this scrawny lad.
"And why do you insist on staring intently at our chests child? It is something that puzzles me" - the elf adds, staring at the boy for a moment - "One thing to remember though - nothing is beyond us to wonder why" - then winks.
Aldan approaches with a darkened torch. Over his shoulder he carries his bow. "Don't let Baca scare you with his mother's tales. Friends, look, I know things have been strange today, but I assure you, our village was as safe as she could be. Levoca hasn't had problems like these before." the man stops to scratch his head with a rough hand, as if embarrassed.
"I believe I speak for all of us - we were glad to help, and hope our assistance has made a difference. The fact that Levoca isn't usual a stage for such events makes me even more curious about what may be causing this - I am a hair's breadth away from fully convinced that the wolves have not come into your settlement simply looking for food" - he nods.
"You and your friend are welcome to stay until he recovers. Clearly, you know how to handle yourselves. I only ask that you meet with my friend Karl and myself tomorrow after breakfast. We should like to discuss terms for training."
"Training...?" - Caramir seems somewhat surprised, but reacts quickly - "Of course, it makes sense. I will gladly meet you in the morrow.
Baca bows out of the conversation and heads away to 9.Levoca. When he turns away, you notice Mak plainly moving his hands the way he did before - casting Detect Magic on Baca. Makirut also seems to behaving a muttering conversation with himself.
Moving closer to his companion, the elf comments - [b]"What do you make of the woman Mak? Any insight? - he questions, interested in whatever light Mak may shed on the subject, but also paying attention to Morti a few feet away, as he addresses Rata.
I am probably hitting the sack in a few, but for the record, Caramir is interested in speaking to Baka some more, once things have settled down. He will head towards where she went just a few moments ago, and try to understand more about these mother's tales Aldan spoke about, and also what is her opinion on what has happened, since they never got to hear her out.
Morti turns to Caramir, "It seems things are quieting down, but the boldness and coordination of those wolves didn't seem natural. Have you seen anything like it before?
"Unless you think there's something t' be found out there in the dark, I'd suggest we turn in. I can take next watch, though -- my blood's still up from th' fight."
Looking concerned, but also a bit skeptical.
"Whether the tales hold true or not, time will tell. I for one would be interested in hearing more of these stories."
Okrin wonders, are there such tales connected to the history of the area or do they seem religious in nature?
;
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From among the blades of grass, Rata spits out the words, ”Revenge led me here. Revenge for my dead father. Revenge for my dead brother. Revenge for the pain I suffered on the crests of bloody waves. My duty is to see a pair of bandits brought to justice. Haha, though I thought this land to be an ally, the creatures here seem to have other plans.” Such is his reply to Morti.
The boy called Baca doesn’t seem willing to acknowledge your comment, and doesn’t seem to respond to your attempts at eye contact.
Aldan nods in response to Caramir’s assessment of the wolves. ”Thanks be that you have come. It has been too long, uh, since we last greeted civil visitors, and capable too!”
Then, turning to Morti, the villager Aldan bends over to say. ”The wolves, make no mistake, they are always strong opponents. I cannot reason why they might attack the village in such a way. It is unusual, but I hesitate to think it has an unnatural cause. For, you see, well, game has been sparse in this area for some time now.”
To Okrin’s comment about stories, Aldan suggests, ”The widow Koren” he gestures to 10.Levoca. ”Now that Olay Yurt has been sent over the world by his bull, Green Man bless him, Koren is the best expert you might find.”
Wow, he's obsessed.
So what now
Bowing his head slightly.
"Thank you. Once I look to my fellow travelers I will be sure to speak with the widow.
Okrin looks to Rata and Mak to see how they are doing. Asking each a simple question.
"How are you my friend?"
,
Nodding knowingly toward Mak.
"Not the evening we'd expected."
Looking sympathetically at Rata's wounds.
"Rest my friend. Something tells me we'll need your strength in the days to come."
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Aldan says his goodbyes and departs
"Speak for yourself, I knew this village was rubbish." Mak whines.
The insects strike up, and three of the villagers set to task hauling the wolf corpses together in a pile.
A glance at the village shows families returning to their homes and putting out their last candles.
Watches look like they will be first Morti, then Okrin, next Caramir, and Karl last.
Montepierre will want to tend to Rata tonight, then sleep.
"The, erm, refined church of Sefagreth is always happy to take donations." Montepierre says to anyone who will listen.
Okrin makes sure to have a torch handy before he starts his watch. Hearing Montepierre's request, Okrin tries to recall the affiliation of the local temple.
Given a few moments to regroup as the village settles back down, Morti suits up in his full armor. Aldan may "hesitate" to suggest unnatural causes for the wolves, but can't be too careful. Might be more odd things about this night.
"Get some sleep. Trust I'll bellow for you if anything interesting happens -- wouldn't want y'all to miss it." the dwarf winks before setting out to patrol the village.